Accademia Bizantina was formed in 1983 with the intent to make music “like a large string quartet”, with equal dedication, participation and collective satisfaction.

With the same “chamber” approach today as then, the group is entirely run by the members, who together decide objectives and guidelines.

Over the years there have been many important personalities from the musical world who have sustained and helped with the artistic growth of the ensemble: from Jorg Demus to Carlo Chiarappa and from Riccardo Muti to Luciano Berio.

From 1996 to 2012 Ottavio Dantone and Stefano Montanari collaborated in total harmony to provide the musical direction of the ensemble, covering respectively the roles of music director and of concertmaster, melding together the best of their human and artistic qualities.

The collective intent, in every phase of work, is that of combining philology and the study of the praxis of original instruments, with careful and respectful study of the score, as the most noble tradition of Italian chamber music.

The discipline and refinement of Dantone, the energy and inspiration of Montanari, the enthusiasm and complicity on the part of each instrumentalist, woven together like the tiles of a Byzantine mosaic, place Accademia Bizantina amongst the most refined and vivacious ensembles of antique music present today on the international stage.

Since 2012 the artistic and musical direction of Accademia Bizantina has been entrusted to Ottavio Dantone. There have been particularly significant collaborations with the violinists Viktoria Mullova and Giugliano Carmignola that have brought to fruition important recording projects for Onyx and Deutsche Grammophone. In addition Accademia Bizantina has made numerous recording with Decca, l’Oiseau Lyre, Harmonia Mundi, Naive, Arts, Denon and Amadeus, many of which have been awarded prizes such as Diapason d’Or and Midem and has been broadcast in live radio transmission from Radio France, Rai Radio Tre, RSI and WDR. The recording “Purcell – O Solitude” with Andreas Scholl and Christophe Dumaux won Accademia Bizantina their first nomination at the Grammy Music Awards in December 2011.

Accademia Bizantina has performed in the most prestigious festivals and halls across Europe, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the United States and South America.